Food & Drink

Where to Buy Quality Loose Leaf Tea Around Vancouver

For the most reliable supply of quality tea leaves, check out these outlets around Vancouver.

By Michael Robertson /

Credit: Flickr / karmacamilleeon

Where to buy loose leaf tea around Vancouver

For the most reliable supply of quality tea leaves, check out these outlets around Vancouver

 

Related: Why capitalism produces bitter tea

 

Murchies – Great selection of premium and herbal teas at very reasonable prices. The wooden drawers and analog scales make the process of buying tea very enjoyable. No decaffeinated black teas though.

 

825 W Pender St, Vancouver | 604-669-0783

161 – 650 W 41st Ave, Vancouver | 604-872-6930

825 Park Royal North, North Vancouver | 604-922-3136


Granville Island Tea – The imposing shelves of tea tins are very cool. Good selection with a few black decafs, too. If you like the hubbub of the markets, it’s great but if you like to take your time choosing your tea you’ll need to pick your day carefully.

 

Granville Island Market | 604-683-7491

 

Urban Tea Merchant – Very knowledgeable staff selling very high-end teas. I walked out very happy but very poor. 100 grams of Milky Oolong set me back $90, but I get so much pleasure from seeing the curled up oolong balls expand into whole leaves under the hot water. Not to mention it tastes incredible.

 

(Slideshow: High tea at Vancouver’s Urban Tea Merchant)

 

1070 W Georgia St, Vancouver | 604-692-0071

G3 – 825 Main St, West Vancouver | 604-926-3392

 

ShakTea – Beautiful glass display of teas and a tea lounge to enjoy them in. I’m an Earl Grey man myself, and I found theirs to be a little flowery for my taste—but each to their own. 

 

3702 Main St, Vancouver | 604-873-5151

 

Bayswater – The teashop has a very Kitsilano–yoga feel to it. They have a comprehensive selection of tisanes but black and white teas are more limited. 

 

2966 W Broadway, Vancouver | 604-733-5767